Author: Ira Paine

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

But to build anything and to make it last calls for discipline, the inner discipline that a man provides for himself and the cooperative discipline that men give to each other.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Bendigo Shafter)

       “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”
                    –Psalm 127:1 (NKJV)
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God is holy!  His holiness demands a response from us.  It may be a negative response by some, but it is still made.  As believers, our response should be one of awe, reverence, and worship.  It should be one of obedience and doing things that please Him.  Perhaps one of the most dangerous responses to God’s holiness is that of apathy and negligence; not caring one way or another.  Psalm 99 is a response to the holiness of God.

          6 — Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel was among those who called upon His name; they called upon the LORD, and He answered them.
          7 — He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar; they kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them.
          8 — You answered them O LORD our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives, though You took vengeance on their deeds.
          9 — Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.  (NKJV)

One of the first things to remember when calling upon the Lord is His sovereignty.  We cannot, or should not say, “this is the way I want it done.”  We must place our petitions and supplications in His hands.  Just as with Aaron, Moses, and Samuel, He will hear and answer.  Steven Lawson states, “Divine sovereignty operates in perfect concert with man’s prayers, not independent of them.  His reign does not bypass people but works in and through their minds, hearts, wills, and actions.”  Providence, or sovereignty, is God working in this world.  He works all things together to bring about His purpose, and if we trust Him, for our good.
       Even though we see in the psalm that God answers, we do not see any real intimacy.  “God is holy.  Before I am invited to be His friend, I must willingly become His subject.” (George O. Wood)  He listens to His people, especially those who draw near to Him, thus the mention of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel.  They knew His voice, they could hear Him speak clearly.  God is shown to be forgiving and pardoning and restoring, but He also disciplines; He punishes our misdeeds and corrects us.   The writer of Hebrews wrote, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”  Yes, there is pardon, but there is also rebuke.  He is our heavenly Father–He is holy.
       Since God is set apart from the world, so should we be also.  Believers should come together by setting themselves apart in worshipping Him.  Our God is not an idol nor does He remain idle.  He is always working, sustaining, pardoning, chastising, redeeming, and working out His purpose and will.  He is a God who speaks and it is done.  He is the subject of none; no one can thwart His will.  Worship the Lord–for “our God is holy”!

               “Sinners, who love can ne’er forget
               The wormwood and the gall,
               Go, spread your trophies at His feet,
               And crown Him Lord of all.”
                        –Edward Perronet

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He poured a tin cup almost to the brim with steaming coffee and held it high as enticement.”

                      –Elmer Kelton  (The Buckskin Line)
 
Howdy, Pard.  Do yuh realize that we are now, this very day, startin’ on the second half of the year.  My mercy, where did the first six months go?  The heat of summer is now here, and we’re starting on the wanin’ side of the yearly cycle.
       How ’bout that coffee this mornin’?  Is it to yur likin’?  Lots goin’ on in the world.  People aren’t satisfied, and if’n they were, they wouldn’t know about it as they’re too occupied with themselves.  I was doin’ some readin’, and the more I read, the more I see that folks are downright imbecilic.  Why, people clamor for freedom and liberty and yet they open themselves up to more and more state control.  Talk about delusional.
       Go ‘head, take a sip, an’ I’ll tell yuh a few things I’ve discovered.  Yuh know, with all of this AI stuff, and digital control, and hackers, and scams, why we could all go crazy with the digital age.  I see where in September of this year that the EU is requiring “digital identity wallets” and the projection is that 80% of Europe will be registered by the year 2030.  Yep, Big Brother will be followin’ yuh around wherever yuh go.  
       With all of the shenanigans they’re trying to pull a person soon will not be able to speak the truth, or they will only be able to speak the truth as the powers-that-be say what the truth is.  Listen, Pard, if’n yuh don’t realize it, the fight is on–there’s a fierce war ragin’.  “Digital fingerprints” for the purpose of determinin’ the truth or falsity of a statement.  Digital information connected to yur bank account and if’n yur one that is not in agreement with what is bein’ said, yur account can be frozen (shades of the coming government of the Antichrist).  WHO is requirin’ everyone to have COVID certification.  There is digital trackin’ on those who say things that indicate they are dissatisfied with the government and with leadership–yep, Big Brother is goin’ to monitor yur speech, gone is the 1st Amendment.  The UN will begin to police anyone who uses “hate speech” and they will be the ones who determine what it is.
       As Brother Paul wrote Timothy, “but know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”  Did yuh get that?  “Know,” for a fact, it is certain–perilous times are comin’, and are even upon us.  Why, Pard, I won’t doubt that if yuh don’t drink a cino, and only the straight, strong coffee, yuh’ll get on their list.  Sure glad I wasn’t born no later than I was.  Now, Pard, I only spoke of some digital issues that are on the horizon.  I didn’t say a word about the racism that is so apparent that folks hide from it.  Why, from what I see, the folks that holler “racism” are the biggest racists, and the most selfish.  Then we have that group of folk that Brother Paul tells us about in Romans 1, those who flaunt an immoral lifestyle.
       Yep, Pard, confusion, and we know the devil is the author of that.  That’s why we need to guard the words of the Bible, why they need to be in our heart.  That’s why we need  to be ready for the comin’ of the enemy, and the comin’ of the Lord.  Pard, that’s why yuh need to be checkin’ yur cinch, so yur not fallin’ on yur head when yuh need to be sittin’ tall in the saddle.
        Vaya con Dios.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

We have a sixth sense that gets dimmed with the noise of civilization but you should always pay attention to it.”
                    –B.N. Rundell  (Journey to Jeopardy)

       “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.”

                    –Psalm 57:1 (NKJV)
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               I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s ev’rything to me,
               He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
               The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
               All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
               In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay,
               He tells me ev’ry care on Him to roll.
               He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
               He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
                         –Charles W. Fry

Since I mentioned this in my devotion yesterday, I thought I’d take a look at the song today.  Just that first verse alone is a great comfort.  He’s all I need to make me fully whole, and that for a fact.  There is no one else:  Buddha can’t do it, Krishna or any of the other thousands of Hindu gods can’t do it.  For sure Allah can’t do it–only Jesus, He is the only true friend that can make us fully whole.  Sorrow–He’s my comfort.  Trouble–He’s what props me up, keeps me standing, holds me together.  I can speak to Him about anything and everything.  He’s a friend like no other.

               He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
               In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;
               I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
               From my heart, and now He keeps me by His pow’r.
               Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempts me sore,
               Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal;
               He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
               He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

When evil raises its ugly head and evil seems to be looming over my head, He’s my strong tower.  I can run to Him, and He will hold me, care for me, and keep me safe.  The world is against me because I am for God, and He will keep me through all its threats.  Satan can hurl his darts, can buffet me, can bring all manner of temptation, but it is Jesus who is by my side, and He will walk with me until I reach that home He has prepared for me.  I don’t need to fear man, I don’t need to fear the demonic forces–the pestilence, the poison, the filth–that the world throws at me–I am safe in Jesus, no one, nothing can take me from His hand.

          He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
          While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
          A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
          With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
          Then sweeping up to glory, to see His blessed face,
          Where rivers of delight shall ever roll!
          He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
          He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

No matter what the devil whispers, I’m living by faith.  I know that Jesus is with me, and will not forsake me.  He is not sleeping in the bottom of the boat allowing me to face the storm alone, in fact, He will arise and calm me in the midst of the storm whether it be a storm of life or in death.  As I hunger and thirst for righteousness, He will fill my soul with His provisions.  This song, from childhood until now, has always been one of my favorites.  There is simple trust in the Lord and that includes the day that He comes to “sweep” me up to glory.  He won’t be dragging, or pushing, but there will be a sweep, a rush with Him into His heavenly realm.  

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

With the red peaks shining up into the blue, and the fragrance of cedar and pinion, and the purple sage and flowers and grass and splash of clear water over stones—with these there came back to him something that he had lost and which had haunted him.”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Rainbow Trail)

       “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.”

                    –Matthew 6:28(NKJV)
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I’m not sure how “spiritual” this morning‘s devotions will be, but then again, much of it has to do with perspective.  I fully agree with Francis Schaeffer when he said, “True spirituality covers all of reality.”  Paul states the same things, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV), and again “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23, NKJV).  I could also add Colossians 3:17, but you get the idea.  All–everything–we do should be for God’s glory.
       With that in mind I want to call your attention to a couple of promises I made to myself several years ago.  

               “How many years had he slept away the beautiful hours from the break of day to the burst of sunrise!”
                         –Zane Grey  (Wyoming)

               “I always say that those who rise early to enjoy the sunrise are the most blessed because of it. They get to see a beauty few others do.”
                         –Faith Blum  (A Mighty Fortress)

How many sunrises have I slept away?  I promised myself I would no longer do that.  There have been very few days, I could probably count them on one hand, when I wasn’t up to watch the sunrise.  I do my morning writing, send out the Echo, contact a few others, get the coffee made, and have 2-3 cups while I put together my morning thoughts.  I sit in my chair reading, doing my devotions, getting my day planned, sipping coffee and looking out the window waiting for the sun to send its rays through the trees.  I think of the times that Jesus was up early, sitting by the lake side, or leaning against a rock in the wilderness, or watching the waters of the Jordan slowly move by early in the morning.
       The second promise I made to myself has to do with flowers.  Yep, this ol’ fence post likes pretty flowers.  Springtime in Texas is a delight with the wildflowers in bloom, and this year was spectacular.  Solomon must have understood this when he wrote,  “The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land” (Song of Solomon 2:12, NKJV).
       Jesus said, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Luke 12:27, NKJV).  Solomon wrote this, “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.  Like a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters” (Song of Solomon 2:1-2, NKJV).
Part of this is referring to the Messiah, a prophetic verse, but it also refers to the one who walks by my side.  The world is a mess, there are thorns, but I have a “lily” beside me.  Because of that I don’t wait until a birthday, Mother’s Day, or anniversary, but I try to keep fresh flowers on the table for my wife.  All that she has to put up with in this life, me, the kids, the grandkids, life in general, why not give her flowers?  There are not any stores near where we live now, but still, at least once a month I get a bouquet of flowers for her.
       I believe that Jesus enjoyed looking at His creation.  The lillies came to His mind, He was called the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley.  One of my favorites songs, “He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star…” (Charles W. Fry)  The fragrance, the velvety texture of the petals, the vibrant colors, all made by the Creator, who would sit and contemplate the world that was created, and if He did so, how much more should I?  
       Mother Teresa said, “We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness.  God is a friend of silence.  See how nature–trees, flowers, grass–grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence…  The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life.  We need silence.”  The dawning of a new day, glimpsing over at the table where a vase of fresh cut flowers sit, and recognizing that this is another day that the Lord has given me.  Two simple promises I have kept and with them comes a pleasant satisfaction.